Meet Our November Guest Guru: Laura Lavoie
This month, we're thankful to share the expertise of multi-published, award-winning picture book author and novelist Laura Lavoie AND to inspire you all to get into the holiday spirit with DUCK THE HALLS!
Up to four 2026 Members will have the opportunity to get a feedback and rating from her. Members can request Laura Lavoie as a Guru from Judy, our long time Admin Assistant and In-box Coordinator Extraordinaire at (RateYourStory@gmail.com), and if there are available spots and your manuscript seems like a good fit, you will receive the benefit.
1. What do you LOVE about children’s books? To quote the character Russell Hammond from one of my favorite movies, Almost Famous, “To begin with, everything.” Children’s books feel so special. When done right, they’re so carefully crafted, from the illustration choices down to every last word. Children’s books are art.
2. What brought you to children’s books? When I was pregnant with my oldest, I started collecting picture books to read to her and remembered how much I love books for kids. These books are what made me fall in love with reading! I wanted to be a part of that; to create something a kid would gravitate to and want to read again and again.
3. Name something you loved / enjoyed as a child? I loved spooky stories. I was very into Halloween and anything that gave me a bit of the shivers in a good way.
4. What do you look for in a project to make it a favorite, or if you are an Editor or Agent, to add a writer to your list? I love humorous stories, flawless rhyme, and holiday stories, especially ones about Halloween, though Christmas books have a special place in my heart, too.
5. Share a story that you love and why, or if you are an Editor or an Agent, a book you simply had to acquire). There are two stories I read before they were published and had the immediate reaction that if I was an editor, I would want to scoop that book up! The first is Best Buds, written by my friend Becky Scharnhorst and illustrated by Jiarui Jiang. It’s clever, funny, and sweet. And it features lots of plants–I love plants and gardening!
The second is I Am Not Happy by Caroline L. Perry, illustrated by Sydney Hanson. I cracked up the first time I read this story. It felt super clever and unique, but it was also laugh-out-loud hilarious.
6. What is a common issue with the submissions you receive? (Or, if you are not an editor or agent, but a Rate Your Story Judge or critiquer, common issues in manuscripts that don’t work). There are two common issues I tend to see when I critique manuscripts. The first is when it’s clear that the writer hasn’t kept up with recent picture books and is perhaps writing based on stories from their own childhood. Picture books have evolved a lot over time. Today’s stories are shorter and need to have a strong hook.
The other common issue I see is stories written in rhyme with no attention paid to rhythm and meter. It’s not enough to end your sentences with rhyming words. The lines need to have a meter that makes sense. Reading rhyming stories aloud should sound almost musical.
7. Our Rate Your Story 2026 Word of the Year is Professionalism. In terms of becoming a writer, what does this word mean to you? I think professionalism means understanding that writing is a craft. It means caring a lot about putting out a good quality book for kids. It’s unfortunate seeing authors who are trying to write kids’ books to make a quick buck, pumping them out fast using AI. Being a professional is taking the time and care to write a story well.
8. Please share a Submission tip with our Members. When submitting to an agent or an editor who accepts unsolicited manuscripts, vet the person first. It truly is better to not have an agent, or to not have a book deal, than to partner with someone who either doesn’t know what they’re doing or doesn’t have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot of patience required in publishing. Be patient!
9. Please share a Revision Tip for our Members. If there’s something in your story that doesn’t feel quite right to you, or if you’ve received consistent feedback that it isn’t quite right or feels confusing, don’t ignore that. More and more, editors are wanting books that check so many different boxes all at once. Don’t give them even a tiny reason to pass.
10. Name subjects you would like to read about, or, if you are an Editor or an Agent, see in your in-box.
I love to read spooky stories and funny stories. I also love big characters with a lot of personality. I enjoy seasonal stories, too, especially ones set in fall or spring.
11. Name subjects you would not like to read about, or, if you are an Editor or an Agent, see in your in-box.
I’m not a great fit for nonfiction or for stories that are intended to educate about a specific topic.
12. Share a fun fact about YOU!
I recently wrote my first graphic novel! Sweet Spells, a witchy baking book illustrated by the incredible Kate Pellerin, will be coming out from First Second (Macmillan) in 2028.
BIO: Laura Lavoie grew up in northern New York, in a house surrounded by trees. She was an only child until she was twelve and didn’t live close to other kids, so she had to find lots of ways to occupy herself—namely, reading books, writing stories, and having endless adventures in the woods.
Now that she’s grown up, Laura can be found doing mostly the same things! She still loves to read and write stories and enjoys spending time outside. She especially likes to kayak in rivers and ponds, as well as hike the nearby Adirondack Mountains. She still lives in northern New York (though a different part of it) with her husband, daughters, and pets.
In addition to being an author, Laura is also an educator who specializes in health and wellness education. Laura’s books out now and on the way are published by Penguin Random House, Macmillan, and Hachette. She is represented by James McGowan of BookEnds Literary.
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